TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 164

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FOREIGN OFFI CE TELEGRAM NO.76 TO PEKING

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GREY WOULD BE SETTLED QUICKLY. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE WERE NOT

ARED TO DO THIS BY E. G. TAKING UP THE SUGGESTION OF AN EXCHANGE THEN WE COULD NO LONGER CONTINUE TO GIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT TO N.C.N.A. PERSONNEL IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THOSE WHOSE PERMITS HAD EXPIRED WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE WITHIN A MONTH. IF HOWEVER THE CHINESE WERE PREPARED TO RELEASE GREY THEN N.C.N.A. RESIDENCE PERMITS WOULD BE RENEWED AND THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING

NORMALLY.

6.

SUCH ACTION WOULD OF COURSE REQUIRE PRIOR HOME OFFICE CONCURRENCE WHICH WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF OBTAINING. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE, THOUGH BY NO MEANS CERTAIN, THAT IF WE EXPELLED SOME MEMBERS OF N.C.N.A., KEY MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF WOULD BE P.N.G. IN RETALIATION, EVEN THOUGH THIS WOULD LEAD TO ACTION BY US AGAINST KEY MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE MISSION HERE.

7.

GRATEFUL FOR FURTHER COMMENTS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HONG KONG TEL NO 92. SEE ALSO M. I.F.T.

SOSFA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FOF.E.D.

P.C.D.

NEWS DEPT.

C.O.

H.K.D.

D.S.A.0. PERSONNEL DEPT.

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